“The central goal is to produce the best-educated citizens in the country,” Commissioner of Higher Education Richard M. Freeland said.

The project is designed to increase the rate of high school graduates who attend college; to increase graduation and success rates at colleges; to align degree programs with needs of businesses; to become the national leader in academic achievements; and to ensure minority, poor and male and female students have comparable grades and graduation rates.

Members of the board all spoke in favor of the project, but some aired concerns about its implementation.

Ware School Superintendent Mary-Elizabeth Beach, a board member, said she is concerned about the goal to reduce the number of students who have to take non-credit remedial classes in college because they are not ready for higher-level courses.

“It seems it is a K-to-12 issue. It is out of your control,” she told Freeland.

But she said she liked the proposal for the Vision Project when it was discussed in September and has continued to like it as it has been researched, developed and modified.

Freeland agreed the Board of Higher Education is not in control of the issue of students needing to take remedial courses in college, but said he has discussed the idea with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and is planning to reach out to superintendents and high school principals to discuss ideas such as increasing dual enrollment programs where high school students are allowed to take college classes.

“It really is a joint responsibility,” he said.

Member Henry M. Thomas III, President of the Urban League of Springfield, said he expects the plan will evolve over time and congratulated Freeland for taking on what he called an “ominous task.”

“With the Vision Project we will learn a lot and become better as a result,” he said.

The project is essentially a strategy for how the Department of Higher Education will focus its work to produce students who will benefit the work force.

“This vote does not represent the end of anything. The real work will begin with this vote,” Freeland said.